4.4.
Economic Development Authority (EDA)
- Meeting Date:
- 04/11/2013
- Submitted For:
- Patrick Brama
- By:
- Patrick Brama, Administrative Services
Title:
City Owned Land Inventory Review
Background:
Periodically, the City Council directs Staff to develop an inventory of surplus City owned land.
The objective of developing an inventory of surplus City owned land is to identify properties that are underutilized; and unneeded for current or future City functions. Staff conducts this procedure as outlined in the attached policy for disposition of City owned land.
Disposition of underutilized City owned properties has a number of benefits to the Community: reduced property maintenance costs, reduced City liability and an increase of taxable parcels. NOTE: Increasing the number of taxable parcels within a City reduces the tax burden per property owner.
The City conducted a land inventory in 2011-2012.
Purpose of Case: update EDA on what properties the City owns with respect to economic development and the City owned land inventory process in general (per the request of the EDA).
The objective of developing an inventory of surplus City owned land is to identify properties that are underutilized; and unneeded for current or future City functions. Staff conducts this procedure as outlined in the attached policy for disposition of City owned land.
Disposition of underutilized City owned properties has a number of benefits to the Community: reduced property maintenance costs, reduced City liability and an increase of taxable parcels. NOTE: Increasing the number of taxable parcels within a City reduces the tax burden per property owner.
The City conducted a land inventory in 2011-2012.
Purpose of Case: update EDA on what properties the City owns with respect to economic development and the City owned land inventory process in general (per the request of the EDA).
Observations:
GENERAL FINDINGS
The City of Ramsey owns over 250 parcels city-wide. The majority of these parcels are wetlands, existing or planned trails, existing or future right of ways (ROW) and greenways. The remaining parcels are open spaces, existing or planned parks, Ramsey Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) properties, Ramsey Economic Development Authority (EDA) properties and locations of various municipal facilities.
Under direction of the City Council, City staff identified a list of City owned parcels that are underutilized, potentially developable and no longer needed by the City. Furthermore, staff investigated the disposition process for each of the said properties.
In summary, staff identified 38 total properties as underutilized and potentially developable. After further investigation, of the 38 total properties 24 properties were found to be legally dedicated/ restricted and eight properties were found to have free and clear title. The remaining six properties were omitted for various reasons. Attached to this case is a summary table (updated in August of 2012).
DEDICATED PROPERTIES
The majority of dedicated/ restricted parcels were acquired from developers and originally intended for park use. However, for a number of reasons, were never developed into parks and have stood vacant for many years (more than twenty years in most cases).
The most common title restriction of the 24 dedicated properties is a “public use only forever” dedication. Meaning, the 24 dedicated properties cannot legally be used for anything but a public use, regardless of the owner. Furthermore, because the City is a trustee of the 24 said properties, and not a free and clear owner, the City does not have the ability to sell said properties.
In order for the City to release dedicated parcels, the “public use only forever” restriction would first need to be removed. After removal of title restrictions, properties would need to be offered back to the original owners. At this point, the City is investigating which of the 24 dedicated/restricted properties should be taken through the legal process to attain clean title and be returned to the original property owner (this step is pending).
NON DEDICATED PROPERTIES
Regarding the eight properties found to have free and clear title, five parcels are currently being marketed by the Ramsey EDA for economic development purposes. Of the remaining three parcels, one parcel was acquired as part of the Legacy Christian Academy development; and is planned to be marketed and sold. The second parcel is an open space located off 178th Avenue and Vicuna Street in the northwest portion of the City; and is planned to be marketed and sold. The third property identified by staff to have free and clear title is a lot known as ‘Peltzer Park’, located on 146th Lane and Kamacite Street. The City did reach out to surrounding property owners regarding the potential disposition of said park--and received significant opposition. Therefore, Peltzer Park will be removed from this list.
EDA INTEREST
The properties listed below are of interest to the EDA in particular. These properties are unrestricted, available for sale and listed on the City's website. NOTE: the list below was updated from the 2011-2012 City owned land inventory outlined above. Attached is a reference map.
01 The COR
06 Old Municipal Center Campus (20.5 acres Public)
08 Former Amoco Oil Station (1.01 acres B1 Business)
11 167/47 Site (16.5 acres R1 Rural Developing)
12 Original City Hall (.49 Public)
13 Legacy Christian Academy Dedication (4.1 unzoned)
27 Industrial Park Land (4.8 E1 Employment)
28 Industrial Park Land (.95 E1 Employment)
34 Windsorwood (3.4 R1 Rural Residential)
37 Industrial Park Land (4.14 E2 Employment)
38 Industrial Park Land (1.24 E2 Employment)
40 Former Nordvick Property (1.15 COR zoning)
The City of Ramsey owns over 250 parcels city-wide. The majority of these parcels are wetlands, existing or planned trails, existing or future right of ways (ROW) and greenways. The remaining parcels are open spaces, existing or planned parks, Ramsey Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) properties, Ramsey Economic Development Authority (EDA) properties and locations of various municipal facilities.
Under direction of the City Council, City staff identified a list of City owned parcels that are underutilized, potentially developable and no longer needed by the City. Furthermore, staff investigated the disposition process for each of the said properties.
In summary, staff identified 38 total properties as underutilized and potentially developable. After further investigation, of the 38 total properties 24 properties were found to be legally dedicated/ restricted and eight properties were found to have free and clear title. The remaining six properties were omitted for various reasons. Attached to this case is a summary table (updated in August of 2012).
DEDICATED PROPERTIES
The majority of dedicated/ restricted parcels were acquired from developers and originally intended for park use. However, for a number of reasons, were never developed into parks and have stood vacant for many years (more than twenty years in most cases).
The most common title restriction of the 24 dedicated properties is a “public use only forever” dedication. Meaning, the 24 dedicated properties cannot legally be used for anything but a public use, regardless of the owner. Furthermore, because the City is a trustee of the 24 said properties, and not a free and clear owner, the City does not have the ability to sell said properties.
In order for the City to release dedicated parcels, the “public use only forever” restriction would first need to be removed. After removal of title restrictions, properties would need to be offered back to the original owners. At this point, the City is investigating which of the 24 dedicated/restricted properties should be taken through the legal process to attain clean title and be returned to the original property owner (this step is pending).
NON DEDICATED PROPERTIES
Regarding the eight properties found to have free and clear title, five parcels are currently being marketed by the Ramsey EDA for economic development purposes. Of the remaining three parcels, one parcel was acquired as part of the Legacy Christian Academy development; and is planned to be marketed and sold. The second parcel is an open space located off 178th Avenue and Vicuna Street in the northwest portion of the City; and is planned to be marketed and sold. The third property identified by staff to have free and clear title is a lot known as ‘Peltzer Park’, located on 146th Lane and Kamacite Street. The City did reach out to surrounding property owners regarding the potential disposition of said park--and received significant opposition. Therefore, Peltzer Park will be removed from this list.
EDA INTEREST
The properties listed below are of interest to the EDA in particular. These properties are unrestricted, available for sale and listed on the City's website. NOTE: the list below was updated from the 2011-2012 City owned land inventory outlined above. Attached is a reference map.
01 The COR
06 Old Municipal Center Campus (20.5 acres Public)
08 Former Amoco Oil Station (1.01 acres B1 Business)
11 167/47 Site (16.5 acres R1 Rural Developing)
12 Original City Hall (.49 Public)
13 Legacy Christian Academy Dedication (4.1 unzoned)
27 Industrial Park Land (4.8 E1 Employment)
28 Industrial Park Land (.95 E1 Employment)
34 Windsorwood (3.4 R1 Rural Residential)
37 Industrial Park Land (4.14 E2 Employment)
38 Industrial Park Land (1.24 E2 Employment)
40 Former Nordvick Property (1.15 COR zoning)
Funding Source:
NA
Staff Recommendation:
NA
Action:
NA
Attachments
- EDA Interest Reference Map
- Summary Table
- All City Owned Property Map
- All profiles
- Policy for Disposition of City Owned Land
- Zoning Map
- Dedicated vs Non Dedicated Map
Form Review
| Inbox | Reviewed By | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Kurt Ulrich | Kurt Ulrich | 04/04/2013 03:30 PM |
- Form Started By:
- Patrick Brama
- Started On:
- 03/08/2013 11:02 AM
- Final Approval Date:
- 04/04/2013